About Top Rankin Education
Lara Rankin College Admissions Consultant, Academic Coach & Learning Needs Specialist
Lara Rankin has taught English for twenty-two years in various countries around the world. After obtaining her BA in Sociology and Photography at the University of California, San Diego, she dedicated several years to working with students with special needs, striving to understand different learning styles and employing personalized learning strategies to help students leverage their strengths.
Her teaching experience includes stints in Honduras and Hungary, as well as diverse schooling environments across the US. After teaching English, Science, Art, and Music to 2nd, 6th, 10th, and 11th grade students in the Caribbean, she returned to the US and earned her teaching credential at California State Monterey Bay. She further honed her skills at a small high school in Santa Cruz, CA, where she taught 9-12th grade English, Art, Digital Photography, and History, including Advanced Placement classes for five years. In 2012, she embraced a new challenge as a Fulbright exchange teacher in Budapest, where she taught ESL and served as an ambassador for the US. She was nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2015 and received commendation for her impact in 2018.
Currently, Lara is a lead teacher at Lydian Academy in Palo Alto, CA, and has been the head of the Humanities Department for four years. In addition to her teaching duties, she provides academic coaching and tutoring for students ranging from middle school to college level in various Humanities subjects, SAT preparation, AP History, and AP English courses. Lara takes pride in offering college admissions support, guiding students through the essential process of identifying the right college fit, and helping them craft compelling essays. Her mentorship has been instrumental in facilitating student acceptance into prestigious institutions such as Stanford, Northwestern, and UCLA. Regardless of educational needs, Lara is committed to ensuring each student is equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary to excel in their academic pursuits.